Monthly Archives: May 2013

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Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division – Homicide/Sex Section have been investigating an undetermined death that occurred today after the victim was discovered in need of medical treatment outside the All Saints Church located at 3 Chevy Chase Circle in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Fire and Rescue personnel, along with officers from the Chevy Chase Village Police Department, responded to the report of an individual with a traumatic injury. The victim was not able to provide first responders with information as to what had occurred. He was transported for treatment to Suburban Hospital where he died.

The victim was identified as Colbert Pleze, age 59, from the 1500 block of Butler Street in Southeast, Washington, D.C. He was an employee of the church.

The death was originally investigated as a possible hit and run traffic collision because the victim had been on Grafton Street washing his car prior to seeking help from individuals inside the church. The Montgomery County Police Collision Reconstruction Unit responded and determined that the death was not due to a traffic collision. Major Crimes detectives took over the investigation.

This evening, the Medical Examiner ruled the death to be natural. This incident is not being investigated as a suspicious death. The exact cause of death, whether from a medical emergency or due to a pre-existing medical condition, is not yet known.

Detectives from the 5th/6th District Investigative Section have made an arrest in a series of thefts from vehicles and robberies in Germantown. Elwood Antoneo Martin, age 29, of an unconfirmed address, has been arrested and charged criminally with numerous offenses related to these thefts and robberies.

In January, detectives began to investigate robberies and thefts from vehicles in Germantown that they believed had been committed by the same suspect. (Click here to see original press release). Through the course of the investigation, Martin was developed as a suspect. In addition, Martin, who was on probation, wore a Parole and Probation GPS ankle bracelet. Detectives were able to use that GPS information to confirm that Martin was at the scene of one of the robberies.

On May 1, Martin was arrested in Germantown on the strength of a Montgomery County arrest warrant. He confessed to three thefts and two robberies. On May 21, Martin was charged with additional crimes via a warrant that he was served while he was in jail. He has been charged with four counts of theft under $1000, three counts of theft $1000 to under $10000, two counts of armed robbery, one count of robbery, two counts of second-degree assault, one count of first-degree assault, and five counts of rogue and vagabond in connection with seven incidents. The seven incidents are as follows:

December 31, 2012 – 20000 block of Gateshead Circle in Germantown – Between 8:15 a.m. and 8:45 a.m., Martin forced entry into the vehicle and took the victim’s purse and electronic devices. Theft $1000 to under $10000, Rogue and Vagabond

January 2, 2013 – 20000 block of Appledowre Circle in Germantown – At approximately 8:00 p.m., Martin opened the unlocked vehicle and stole the victim’s purse. Theft Under $1000, Rogue and Vagabond

January 9, 2013-20100 block of Locustdale Drive in Germantown– Between 5:40 a.m. and 6:20 a.m., electronics and cash were stolen from the victim’s vehicle. There were no signs of forced entry to the vehicle. Theft $1000 to under $10000, Rogue and Vagabond

January 14, 2013- 11300 block of Halethorpe Terrace in Germantown– At approximately 8:32 p.m., the 50-year-old victim was opening her vehicle door in the residential parking lot. Martin reached into the driver’s side of the vehicle and removed a purse and jewelry from the victim. Martin implied that he had a weapon but it was not seen by the victim. He then fled on foot. Theft $1000 to under $10000, Armed Robbery, Second-degree Assault, Rogue and Vagabond

January 28, 2013 – 20000 block of Appledowre Circle in Germantown – At approximately 9:05 p.m., the 46-year-old victim was exiting her vehicle in the parking lot when she was approached by Martin. He demanded money and threatened to hurt the victim with a weapon (no weapon was seen by the victim). When the victim stated she had no money, Martin punched the victim in the face. He then took property and fled on foot. The victim suffered a small laceration to her face. Theft under $1000, Armed Robbery, Second-degree Assault

April 1, 2013 – 19500 block of Gunners Branch Road in Germantown – The victim was at her vehicle in the parking lot and was arranging items in her vehicle. Martin opened the vehicle passenger door and removed the victim’s purse and other property. Martin fled on foot. Theft Under $1000, Rogue and Vagabond

April 11, 2013 – 18000 block of Cottage Garden Drive in Germantown – While at her apartment building mailbox, the 57-year-old victim was grabbed from behind. Martin then removed the victim’s purse from her person. At some point, the victim was thrown to the ground. During the struggle, the victim sustained a laceration above her eye, multiple bruises, and required stitches for an injury to her mouth. Theft under $1000, Robbery, First-degree assault

Search warrants have been executed on two residences and property from these robberies and thefts has been recovered. Martin is being held without bond pending trial.

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division – Homicide/Sex Section are investigating a drowning that occurred yesterday at Scotts Cove, a part of the Rocky Gorge Reservoir.

Yesterday, at approximately 5:45 p.m., MCP was notified that Howard County Fire/Rescue and other emergency personnel were searching for a 15-year-old male that had gone under the water at Scotts Cove.

MCP detectives responded to the location, and investigation revealed that the victim had been with family members at the park when he left the group to find other family members that were fishing nearby. At approximately 3:45 p.m., a witness observed the victim in the water. The witness then observed the victim go under the water and not resurface and contacted 911.

Following an extended water rescue operation, the victim’s body was recovered from the water by Howard County Fire/Rescue at approximately 7:09 p.m.. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. MCP detectives are leading the investigation into the boy’s death, as the Reservoir runs between Howard and Montgomery counties, and the water is within Montgomery County jurisdiction.

The victim has been identified as Victor Manuel Videla-Hernandez of the 1000 block of Harrison Drive in Laurel, Maryland.

Yesterday, the pedestrian, previously identified as Jason Alexander Estabrook, age 42, of the 1700 block of Crommelins Court in Point of Rocks, Maryland, succumbed to his injuries.

The circumstances surrounding this now fatal collision remain under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact CRU detectives at 240-773-6620. Callers may remain anonymous.